Invasion of Ryukyu

Invasion of Ryukyu
Map of Ryukyu Kingdom
Date March–May 1609 Location Ryukyu Islands Result Satsuma victory; Ryukyu becomes a vassal state
Belligerents
Ryukyu Kingdom	Satsuma Domain of Japan
Commanders and leaders
Shō Nei (POW) Jana Ueekata (POW) Nago Ryōhō Urasoe Chōshi (POW) Tomigusuku Seizoku Shō Kokushi † Gusukuma Sapeechin † Goeku Ueekata Yamazaki Nikyū (POW)	Shimazu Tadatsune Kabayama Hisataka Hirata Masumune
Strength
Greater than 3,000 men; unknown number of ships	3,000 men in 100 ships
Casualties and losses
At least 1,500	No more than 500

The invasion of Ryukyu (琉球侵攻, Ryūkyū Shinkō) by forces of the Japanese feudal domain of Satsuma took place from March to May of 1609, and marked the beginning of the Ryukyu Kingdom's status as a vassal state under the Satsuma domain. The invasion force was met with stiff resistance from the Ryukyuan military on all but one island during the campaign. Ryukyu would remain a vassal state under Satsuma, alongside its already long-established tributary relationship with China, until it was formally annexed by Japan in 1879 as the Okinawa Prefecture.